Election Commission Directs Strict Against YSRCP MLA over EVM ‘Vandalism’ in Andhra Pradesh

Visakhapatnam: The Election Commission (EC) has ordered for strict action against YSRCP MLA P Ramakrishna Reddy, who is alleged to have damaged an electronic voting machine (EVM) and has also directed to launch a probe against him.

The YSRCP MLA was allegedly caught vandalising an EVM at a polling centre in the Macharla constituency of Palnadu district on the web camera.

“YSRCP Sitting MLA Pinneli Ramakrishna Reddy was recorded on a web camera during the incident of vandalising EVMs in 7 polling centres, including PS number 202 in Macharla Assembly constituency,” the chief electoral officer of Andhra Pradesh said in an official statement.

“Palnadu district election officials handed over the video footage of all such polling stations to the police to assist in the investigation into the vandalism incident. The police stated that the MLA’s name has been included as an accused in the investigation,” the statement added.

“The EC is taking this matter very seriously and has directed CEO Mukesh Kumar Meena to inform the DGP to take strict action against all those involved in these incidents. Therefore, the EC hopes that no one will dare to commit such misdeeds in the future to conduct the elections peacefully,” the statement added further.

Andhra Pradesh voted for the Assembly and the Lok Sabha in a single phase on May 13.